F1 News
Alonso warns Verstappen: 'You have to behave decently'
Fernando Alonso doesn't say Max Verstappen deserved a penalty for swearing in an FIA press conference, but he does believe the Dutchman should be careful with how he sometimes expresses himself.
Many Formula 1 drivers rushed to support Verstappen after he got a community service penalty for saying the word 'f***ed in a press conference. That included his biggest rival, Lewis Hamilton. The seven-time World Champion advised Verstappen not to complete the community service penalty and suggested he wouldn't do it himself. Alonso, who often agrees with Verstappen, has given the three-time World Champion a warning.
Spanish newspaper Marca quotes Alonso talking about being an idol to many fans around the world. "Things like that remind me that there are a lot of people watching us," Alonso stated, who then believes that there is a responsibility attached to that.
"If you are a driver or someone in the public domain, you are supposed to behave decently. So the fans can give you a lot of love, a lot of motivation, but there is also a big responsibility with what is expected of you. You have to be an example if you want to, and if you don't, you have to. If you want to say something that is not correct, you have to contain yourself and be politically correct."
Being an example in F1
Alonso believes that this counts when you are outside the cockpit. "You have a responsibility to your fans and those people believe in you," said the Spaniard.
For now, Verstappen's penalty has not been reversed. The F1 drivers are expected to hold talks with the FIA in Austin, where the next Grand Prix will be held, about the Red Bull driver's community service penalty
This article has been created in collaboration with Ludo van Denderen